Mud bubbles and spits while geysers spurt high in Rotorua... dolphins frolic off a bow in the Bay of Islands... skiers whoosh through the powder on Mt Ruapehu...but, on the surface, Waitomo is as quiet as a muffin because the folk are underground, as busy as rabbits. Glow-worms sit aloft, looking down at the visitors who are exploring the caves, Black Water rafting or who have abseiled into the Lost World.

This is the only country featured on this website that has no 'tropics' but what a rewarding destination it is, both as a stand alone place to visit or to combine with some of the other Pacific destinations. From NZ you can get direct flights to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Tahiti, Hawaii and the Cook Islands. (Lucky little Kiwis!) But for couples who want a truly memorable non-tropical honeymoon New Zealand has so much to offer.

In the South Island you have the spectacular ski fields and the sheer physical beauty of the rugged alps, glaciers, fiords and rolling plains. In the North Island you also have great scenery as well as soft adventure, the Maori culture and so much to see and do. Unlike the sprawling vastness of Australia, the regions of New Zealand click together in tidy little modules. Drive for two hours and everything can be totally different.

There's a range of excellent accommodation for couples from five star hotels to cosy boutique properties, it is easy to get around and, because of the exchange rate, it is one of the best value destinations on the planet. If you only have a week, choose one of the main islands only. If you have two weeks, opt for both. If you have three weeks you are very fortunate. The locals will welcome you with a wicked sense of humour and a smile and wink that subtly says they know that they live in one of the best spots on earth.

Here's a sample itinerary for the North Island - in seven days you can experience cosmopolitan Auckland, swim with dolphins in the Bay of Islands, abseil into the Lost World and go Blackwater Rafting in Waitimo, experience Maori culture and the thermal wonderland of Rotorua and ski Mount Ruapehu - all the time staying in quality accommodation, eating superb cuisine accompanied by fine NZ wines and welcomed by the locals.

And the South Island - start in the lovely city of Christchurch, head across the Canterbury Plains, experience the wonder of Mt Cook and the glacier, to the lively, picturesque Queenstown and nearby ski fields and on to the spectacular beauty of Milford Sound. And you'll still have time for a bit of tramping (hiking), checking out the local arts and crafts and sampling the wineries in the Marlborough region.

While tourism is an important industry, New Zealand doesn't wave its arms saying 'look at me, look at me!' - it somehow just sits there, waiting for discerning travellers to ask, 'why not?'. You won't be disappointed if you answer the question in the affirmative.

More Information

Small Guide Travel has an office in Auckland and we can give you expert advice on what to see and do, where to stay and how to make the most of your NZ experience. Just email us for more info and cost and obligation-free advice and recommendations.